How to Install Kali Linux on VirtualBox for Hacking Training (2020)

If you want to become an Ethical Hacker, installing a Linux Operating System (OS) made for hacking/hackers is one of the VERY first steps you must take. In this post, using illustrative screenshots, I will show you how to install Kali Linux in VirtualBox on your Windows computer.

Important! As of Jan 29th, 2020 the installation procedures on this post became a little obsolete. This is because the Kali team made changes to the installation files, and also fixed many of the cons you’ll find on the table below. Find an updated version of this post here: https://ojoiszy.com/install-kali-linux-on-virtualbox/

There are two methods of installing Kali Linux in VirtualBox I’ll show in this tutorial and I’ll tell you the one to choose and give reasons why. Both methods will get the work done but I highly recommend the first (#1) for hacking newbies.

I recommend using the .ISO file to install Kali Linux for serious beginners looking to learn ethical hacking. This is ofcourse the general installation procedure for installing any Linux operating system.

However, we are going to be using the light version of the .ISO images that Kali provides for download instead of the full .ISO images, and that’s for a good number of reasons.

Firstly, using the light image automatically fixes the issue with Kali Linux running very slow or sluggish on VirtualBox even though you have allocated it quite a bit of computing resources. This frustrating lag will particularly be very noticeable to those who have low- to mid-end computers.

Secondly, you get to install only the hacking tools you need or require. Because the light image installs a barebones system that is not bloated with unnecessary hacking tools you may never need or use. I mean, what’s the point of having such hacking tools in your arsenal that you didn’t even know are there.

Thirdly, you’ll learn hacking and the Linux environment a lot faster when you can install things by yourself. Because when you face any issues you will definitely research for a fix and that will accelerate your learning.

Alright with that out of the way, let’s get to the actual installation. There are only 4 straight forward steps to install Kali Linux in VirtualBox on your Windows computer:

Now to complete this step, attach the Kali .ISO file you downloaded to this newly created guest OS. With the newly created guest OS selected, click “Settings“.

settings button

In the window that comes up, click “Storage“, “Empty” and click the “disk icon” as shown in the image below. Afterwhich select the Kali Linux .ISO file you downloaded to attach it.

Add Kali Linux .ISO file to VMKali Linux file added to VM

Step 4: Install Kali on VirtualBox

You are now ready to install the Kali Linux operating system on our VirtualBox. Double click to launch the Kali Linux virtual machine.

On the boot menu, select “Graphical install“.

Graphical install

Note: Upon clicking inside the virtual machine, your mouse cursor will be captured. To uncapture it simply press the Ctrl key on the right side of your keyboard.

Now the next couple of screens are just cosmetic settings and are a matter of user preference. System language <> Location <> Keyboard language. I normally just press enter to select the highlighted option which is just fine for me.

System language set to EnglishLocation set to the United StatesKeyboard language set to American English

Configure system Hostname. This is the name this guest OS will be identified by on your local network but for now, let’s leave it as kali.

System hostname set to “Kali”

Configure domain name. Leave this blank too. Press enter to proceed.

Leave domain name empty

Set a password for the root account here. Ensure you don’t forget it.

creating password for ROOT user

Configure the clock. This is yet another setting based on user preference.

Time zone set to Eastern

Partition Disks. We could go ahead to partition our virtual hard disk and have separate partitions for /home, /opt, etc. But using the entire disk without partitioning will work well for our purposes, which by the way is recommended for new users.

After writing changes to disk the system will begin to install. This will take some time to complete depending upon the speed of your computer and also on how much RAM you allocated the VM

Use a network mirror? Select NO because we won’t be needing it for our package manager.

No need for a network mirror

Install GRUB boot loader? Select “YES” and then select the only device hard disk we have which is the 25GB virtual hard disk we created in the beginning.

Select “yes” to install GRUBInstall GRUB on virtual harddisk

Finishing the installation… Give this a few more seconds to complete and ta-da! Installation is complete.

Installation completed successfully

You can log in to your new Kali Linux virtual machine using username = root and the password you set during the installation.

Method#2 – Install Kali Linux on VirtualBox using OVA File

Installing Kali Linux on VirtualBox using an Open Virtual Appliance (OVA) file is no doubt a super quick and easy method. All you need to do is download the prepackaged Kali Linux OVA file and import it with one click on VirtualBox.

Overall, it’s not a method I would recommend for beginners looking to come into the world of hacking. Simply because you won’t learn much that way. As you continue your hacking journey, one of the things you would quickly notice is that you would be installing a LOT of things.

Really if you want to learn to hack, you should be able to at least know the procedure to install the operating system you are going to be spending hundreds, if not thousands of hours working on.

To install Kali Linux on VirtualBox using .OVA file there are only 2 quick steps to take:

Step 2: Import the Kali Linux .OVA file on VirtualBox

Launch VirtualBox and click “Import” under the Tools menu.

Next, click the folder icon to the right of the search box to select your downloaded Kali Linux .OVA file.

Configure the virtual appliance settings as you need. Here I basically leave everything as it is. The only thing I may modify is the virtual hard disk space and RAM allocation to suite the resources I have on that computer.

Kali Linux configuration screen

Ensure to tick the checkbox next to Import hard drives as VDI. Click “Import” to finish up.

Your new Kali Linux virtual machine will now be visible on the VirtualBox homepage, double click on it to launch.

Kali Linux installed on VirtualBox using .OVA

Login with Kali Linux default username: root & password: toor

What’s Next

Now that’s all for installing Kali Linux on VirtualBox for hacking. But before you can go ahead to start tinkering around with your newly installed hacking box, there are a few necessary FIRST THINGS you need to do.

About The Author

My name is Ojo Iszy, I am an ethical hacker and cybersecurity expert. I started to learn hacking way back in 2014 completely through self-education. This gave me the opportunity to gain very sound & practical experience in cybersecurity and ethical hacking. Now I focus all of my time and energy teaching the best of what I have learned through the years on this blog, my YouTube channel, and in my online courses (launching soon).